Dinghy, Zodiac or RIB: what each one is and which suits you
Published on 8 July 2026
Let's clear up the name confusion once and for all: dinghy is the use, Zodiac is a brand and RIB is a construction. Knowing this saves you money.
Three words, three different things
On Mediterranean pontoons these three words get used interchangeably, but they aren’t:
- Dinghy describes a use: the small auxiliary boat that gets you from anchor to shore. A dinghy can be inflatable, rigid, rowed or sailed.
- Zodiac is a French brand, founded in 1896, so dominant for decades that its name became the generic word for inflatable boats — like Kleenex or Hoover. When someone says “I’m buying a zodiac”, they almost never mean the brand.
- RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) describes a construction: a rigid fibreglass or aluminium hull + inflatable tubes. It’s the technical evolution of the classic inflatable.
So: you can have a Zodiac-brand dinghy of RIB construction. All three at once.
Folding inflatable vs RIB: the difference that matters
The real buying decision isn’t about names but construction:
| Folding inflatable (air deck) | RIB | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | Inflatable or removable | Rigid fibreglass/aluminium hull |
| Handling | Bounces off waves, wet ride | Cuts waves, dry and stable |
| Stowage | Folds into a bag | Needs davits, chocks or a trailer |
| Weight | Minimal | Medium (fibreglass) or low (aluminium) |
| Durability | Medium | High |
| Price | From very cheap | From mid-range |
The folding boat wins in exactly one scenario: when you have nowhere to stow a rigid hull. In everything else — handling, safety, durability, resale — the RIB wins.
Why does “everyone have a zodiac” then?
Pure historical marketing. Zodiac invented entire market categories and had little competition for decades. Today the market looks different: brands like Highfield dominate aluminium tenders, Williams and Castoldi rule the premium jet tender, and ranges like Navisoul offer the same material quality as the historic brands without their brand premium.
Our Zodiac vs Navisoul comparison puts the numbers side by side.
So which one suits you?
- Nowhere to stow a rigid hull? → Folding air-deck inflatable. It’s your only option and it’s a good one.
- Tender for davits or platform? → Small RIB (2.65–3.3 m). Fibreglass for price, aluminium for weight and toughness.
- A leisure boat in its own right? → RIB from 4.8 m up. Here you compare brands and engines like you’d compare cars.
Still unsure about your case? Tell us about it and we’ll reply with a recommendation within 24 hours.